Water-power apparatus



`(No Model.)

O. J. WOODARD. WATER POWER APPARATUS.

No. 589,678. Patented Sept. 7,1897.

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' UNTTED STATES PATENT rinesQ ORSON J. VOODARD, OF MANNSVILLILQINEIV YORK..

yWATER-PONER APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 589,678, dated September 7, 1897'.

Application filed January 26, 1897. Serial No. 620,745. (No model.)

This invention relates to chain water wheels; and the object thereof is to provide an improved device of this class which is simple in construction and operation and by means of which a maximim of efficiency is secured with a minimum amount of power.

The invention is fully disclosed in the fol! lowing specification, of which the accompany ing drawings form a part, in which- 'Figure l is a side view of my improved chain water-wheel; Fig. 2, a view at right angles to Fig. I of a detail of the construc y tion, and Fie. 3 a back view of two of the buckets of the chain and showing the method of connecting and operating the same.

In the drawings forming part of this speci fication the separate parts of my improvement are designated by the same numerals of reference throughout the several views, and in the practice of my invention I provide any suitable frame, which," as shown in the drawings, consists of two vertical standards 5, in which are mounted an upper and a lower shaft G and 7, and each of the shafts 6 and 7 is provided with two wheels S, the perimeter of each of which is provided with a deep annular groove 9, which is triangular in form in crosssecton- I also provide a chain of buckets which consists of separate buckets l0, which are triangular in form in cross-sed tion and the wider portions of which are open, and secured tothe back of each of these bucket-s and adjacent to each end thereof are cross-strips 1l, and mounted between the cross-strips l1 are links l2. The links l2 overlap the space between said buckets and are pivotally connected with the strips ll by bolts or strips 13, and mounted on the outside of said strips 1l and pivotally connected therewith by the saine bolts or pins are supplemental links lei, which also overlap the spaces between each of the buckets. Each of the links l2 is provided with two inwardlydirected wedge-shaped teeth l5, and in the operation of the device these wedge-shaped teeth move in the grooves J of the wheels.

My improved chain water-wheel works on the principle of an overshot wheel, and in practice I provide means, asV shown at 1G, for discharging the water into the buckets l0 as nearly as possible at the top of the frame,

whereby I secure the greatest percentage of power from the amount of water employed, and in the operation of the device the sides of the chain move up and down vertically and the water therefor falls vertically, and the arrangement of the buckets is such that all the water is discharged therefrom at once at the bottom of the frame.

It will also be understood that the buckets may be pressed or supported transversely in any desired manner and byany desired means, and any desired number of the chains may be employed, and said chains, the various parts thereof, and the various parts of the entire apparatus may be made of any desired material.

In practice I prefer to form the buckets about nine orten inches across at the top and from three to four at the bottom, and these buckets can be readily filled when they are moving at the rate of ten feet to the second, which is much greater than in a device of this class as ordinarily constructed, and with my improved construction there is no water wasted between the points where the buckets are filled and where the water is discharged therefrom.

The wheels S are preferably rigidly secured to the shafts G and 7, and these shafts may be provided with the most approved bearings,v

and there will consequentlybe but little friction produced in the operation of the device, and one of these shafts may be provided with a power-wheel by means of which the power may be applied, and the teeth l5 on the links l2, which move in the grooves 9 of the wheels 8, act in the manner of a belt and will not slip, and the friction thereof is comparatively small, and if the links and teeth and the grooves in the wheels are properly made the wear will also be reduced to a minimum.

My improved chain water-wheel is simple in construction and operation and is perfectly IOO adapted to accomplish the result for which it is intended, and by means thereof the greatest amount of power may be secured in proportion to the amount of water employed.

The strips ll may be composed of wood orr any desired material, and it will be apparent that the buckets may be secured to said strips in any desired manner.

Having fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patentl. In a water-power apparatus, the combination with two suitablysupported shafts, each of which is provided with two wheels, each of which is peripherally grooved, of a bucket-chain, consisting of separate buckets, the backs of which are lprovided with two sets of transverse strips, which are secured thereto, and links which are mounted between said strips, and pivotally connected therewith, and which overlap the space between the buckets, said links being each provided with inwardly-directed wedgeshaped teeth which operate in the annular grooves in said wheels,substan tially as shown and described.

2. In a water-power apparatus, the combination with two suitably-supported shafts, each of which is provided with two wheels, each of which is peripherally grooved, of a bucket-chain, con sistin g of separate buckets, the backs of which areprovidedwith two sets of transverse stri ps, which are secured thereto, and links which are mounted between said strips, and pivotallyconnected therewith, and

which overlap the space between the buckets,

said links being each provided with inwardlydirected wedgeshaped teeth which operate in the annular grooves in said wheels, and said strips being also provided with supplemental links which are pivotally connected with the outer sides thereof, and which overlap the spaces betweenthe buckets, substantially as shown and described.

3. In a water-power apparatus, the combination with f two suitably-supported shafts, each of which is provided with two wheels` each of which is peripherally grooved, of a bucket-chain, consisting of separate buckets, the backs of which are provided with two sets of transverse strips, which are secured thereto, and links which are mounted between said strips, and pivotally connected therewith. and which overlap the space between the buckets, said links being each provided with inwardly-directed wedge-shaped teeth which operatein the annular `grooves in said wheels, and said strips being also provided with supplemental links which are pivotally connected with ther outer sides thereof, and which overlap the space between the buckets, the links which are mounted between the strips and providedwith teeth, being connected with the said strips by the same pins or bolts by which the supplemental links are connected therewith, substantially as shown -aud described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed my name, inv presence of the subscribing witnesses, this 20th day of January, 1897.

ORSON J. VOODARD.

'Vitnesses:

SIDNEY E. CLAFLIN, B. N. BAILEY. 

